Tom DeLay sends support letter for Hastert sentencing

Dennis Hastert's lawyers have filed 41 letters of support for the former U.S. House speaker as he heads into sentencing, including one from former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

(AP) — Dennis Hastert's lawyers have filed 41 letters of support for the former U.S. House speaker as he heads into sentencing, including one from former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

The letters were filed Friday evening in federal court in Chicago.

Hastert will be sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty last year to breaking banking laws as he sought to pay $3.5 million to a man to ensure he didn't divulge past misconduct by Hastert. Prosecutors say the core of the misconduct is sexual abuse by Hastert when he coached at Yorkville High outside Chicago.

Delay writes that the 74-year-old Hastert "is a good man that loves the lord." He adds that Hastert "doesn't deserve what he is going through."

Prosecutors say Hastert abused at least four boys at Yorkville High School.